The Delhi High Court has questioned the AAP government to clarify why women and two-wheelers have been exempted from the odd-even number plate scheme that has been recently introduced. "Get instruction why such exemption (women and two- wheelers) is necessary," a bench of justices Hima Kohli and Sunil Gaur said while directing the Delhi government to submit data on the pollution levels and vehicles plying during the scheme effective for 15 days starting on January 1.

The court, however, refrained from passing any interim order on a plea by Delhi resident Karuna Chhatwal, who sought direction to restrict the movement of cars driven by women drivers as well as two wheelers. It issued notice to the Delhi government and asked them to file a status report within three days on her plea. On a plea by an advocate Rahul Aggarwal seeking exemption for lawyers from the scheme, the bench said if it allows them to use their vehicles then this court will be flooded with litigation from doctors and other officials, who have not been included in list of 25 exempted categories.

The court has also issued notice to Delhi government on another issue raised by advocate Manoj Kumar, who filed a joint PIL with Gunjan Khanna, a petitioner who commutes from Noida, challenging the December 28 notification related to odd-even scheme to check pollution in the capital. The petitioners said Delhi government should "call for public debate before enforcing the decision". The court has now listed the three petitions for further hearing on January 6, when the court will hear other four PILs filed by different individuals against the AAP government's plan on the odd-even number plate formula.

The vehicles exempted from odd-even scheme includes the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Union Ministers and Governors and Chief Ministers of states and Union Territories "except that of Delhi". Besides, women drivers, CNG-certified vehicles, VIPs, two -wheelers, ambulances, defence vehicles and embassy vehicles have been exempted from Delhi government's ambitious scheme. Speaking more on the occasion, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has clarified while announcing the scheme that he and his cavalcade shall not be availing the exemption offered to the VIPs.